David Wögerbauer later turned his love of science, which began in middle school in Pregarten, into his profession: “Chemistry is logical, everything makes sense,” says the 20-year-old. “I felt comfortable in this area from the start, it was exactly mine.” The man from the Mühlviertel has been working for Thermo Fisher in the chemical park in Linz for four years. He completed an apprenticeship there as a chemical process engineer and successfully passed his final apprenticeship exam in 2021 after 3.5 years.
Chemical process engineers control, monitor and maintain systems to manufacture chemical products: the spectrum ranges from medical products to plastics and fertilizers to paints. They clean, prepare and adjust the large and mostly computer-controlled production facilities for chemical processing. Active ingredients for the pharmaceutical industry are manufactured at Thermo Fisher. “I control the equipment and check the processes for safety, parameters and quality.” For example, the pressure and temperature must always be complied with according to the specifications, says Wögerbauer. If this is not the case, the medicines are not of the required quality.
Chemical process engineers load the machines with the required raw materials and operate the systems for mechanical, physical-chemical or thermal separation, dedusting or gas cleaning. They also take samples for examination in the company laboratory and eliminate disruptions in the production process.
In addition to enjoying science and technology, accuracy and the ability to work in a team are also important for the job: “You work in a team, usually three to five technicians work together,” says Wögerbauer. The systems are monitored continuously, including at night, on weekends and on public holidays. Wögerbauer works in shifts, six days in a row. Then he has four days off: “It was quite a change, but I’ve gotten used to it now.”
Some who work shifts struggle with sleep problems: “But I’m fine with it.” He just finds it a pity that he is sometimes not there when his friends are doing something.
“earn your own money early”
Wögerbauer comes from Hagenberg (district Freistadt). It quickly became clear that he wanted to do an apprenticeship: “I wanted to earn my own money early on.” His father works for Borealis, whereupon the son also began to look around the chemical park – and found what he was looking for at Thermo Fisher. He recently returned there after serving in the army as a journeyman. Now he wants to gain a few years of experience and later do his master’s degree.
Source: Nachrichten
